Dar-es-Salaam based Air Tanzania has taken delivery of the first of two brand new Bombardier Q400s aircraft it has on order from Bombardier Inc Canada.

According to ch-aviation, the aircraft which is owned by the Tanzanian government, will be transferred to the local registry over the coming days before starting commercial services. The airline’s acting managing director Patrick Itule previously said the Q400s' arrival will herald a dramatic expansion in the state-owned carrier's network from Dar-es-Salaam which currently consists of Kigoma and Moroni Int'l.

Alongside Air Tanzania's only aircraft, an eighteen year-old Dash 8-300, the two Q400s will be used to gradually roll out services to Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Tabora, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Pemba Wawi and Bukoba.

Alongside Air Tanzania's only aircraft, an eighteen year-old Dash 8-300, the two Q400s will be used to gradually roll out service to: Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Tabora, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Pemba Wawi, and Bukoba. As previously reported, the Tanzanian government also plans to acquire a CS300, although no delivery date, or any confirmation that it would be placed with Air Tanzania, has been given.